Gate latch



Jan. 16, 1951 A. c. THOMPSON ET AL 2,538,398

GATE LATCH Filed June 21, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hg: 1 A /21 h '1 I O o; 0]

1951 A. c. THOMPSON ET AL GATE LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1948 Patented Jan. 16, 1951 GATE LATCH Andrew C. Thompson and Carl Gill, Madera, Calif., assignors to Thompson & Gill, Inc., Madera, Calif a corporation of California Application June 21, 1948, Serial No. 34,206

' 2 Claims. y 1

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, an improved gate latch for use in connection with ranch gates or the like, where I a rugged, heavy-duty latch is required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate latch which is readily adjustable to alter the extent of projection of the latch bar; this being desirable not only for initially setting the latch bar forengagcment with the catch, but also to compensate for any subsequent varying of the spacing between the free end of the gate and adjacent post on which the catch is mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gate latch which, is spring actuated; the spring being enclosed to protect it against damage and frame the weather.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a gate latch which is simple in construction, embodying few parts, and thus being economical to manufacture.

It is also an object of the invention to provide agate latch which includes a novel arrangement for the reception of a padlock, whereby to secure the latch against opening movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable gate latch, and yet one whichwill be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the latch as in use on a gate.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the latch, partly in section and detached.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View of the inner end of the latch.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 1-4! of Fig. 1, showing, in end View, the latch as mounted on a gate.

Referring now more particularly to the char acters of reference on the drawings, the improved gate latch ccmprises an elongated tubular body I, having a non-circular bore 2 therethrough from end to end. A longitudinal attachment flange 3 is included on the body I and extends vertically therefrom adjacent one longitudinal edge.

A latch bar l of lesser length than the body I is engaged in slidable generally matching relation in the non-circular bore 2 and projects at one end from said bore, as shown. At its inner end the latch bar 4 is formed with a spindle 5 which projects through the bore and out of the opposite end thereof; said spindle being threaded at its outer end portion, as at E5.

The outer end of the latch is that from which the latch bar 4 projects, while the inner end of the latch is that from which the threaded portion 6 of the spindle 5 projects.

At its inner end the body I is fitted with a cross bar 'I secured in place as by welding; such cross bar I including a reduced diameter hole" 8 through which the threaded portion 6 of the spindle 5 slidably extends.

A relatively heavy-duty compression spring 9 surrounds the spindle 5 between theinner end of the latch bar and the cross bar I at the inner end of the body; such spring 9 being loaded and normally tending to advance the latch bar 4.

Another cross bar III is threaded on the prorests in abutment with the cross bar I; such threaded-on cross bar I5 being fixed, in adjusted position, by a lock nut I I on the threaded portion 6 of the spindle 5, said nut bearing against the outside of the cross bar I0.

The cross bars I and II! project laterally in the same direction beyond one side of the body I as ears I2 having matching holes It for the reception of a padlock.

The cross bar I9 also projects laterally in the opposite direction from the body I'to provide a latch actuating finger I4.

The above describedgate latch is mounted and used in the following manner:

The body I is seated on the upper edge of one horizontal board I5 of. a gate adjacent its free end and between the vertical end boards I6 at said. end of the gate.

The outer end of the body I is flush with the corresponding end of the gate, and said body is secured in place by cross bolts I1 which extend between the vertical end boards I6 and pass through holes I8 in the attachment flange 3 on zontal board I5 on the same side as the finger To release the latch the hand lever I9 is swung.-

rearwardly, i. e. in a direction away from the gate post 23. Such motion is transmitted from the hand lever I9 through the. engaged-finger- I l to the spindle 5, retracting. the same along with. the latch bar 4. When this occurs, said bar;4= is;

pulled free of the catch 22 andthe. gate may be opened.

When it is desired to lock the latch, a1padlock is engaged through the matching holes 13 of the laterally projecting. ears [2 of. the cross bars, 1 l

and L0; this effectivelysecuring said cross bars against separation and consequently preventing openingof the latch,

The. normal. longitudinal position. of the latch bar 4' canbe easily adjustedby first loosening the 3;.

look nut H and then rotating. the, cross. bar In on. the threaded portion. 5. of the spindle. 5.; the lock.nut.ll being reset when the desired adjustmentlias been. eflecte'd.

The described gate latch is a very. practical, f.

rugged, and reliable device. for. the intended purpose; the spring. 9. being wholly encl'osedagainst damage and also out ofithe weather.v

The, design is: such, that the latch can be readily ancleasily. appliedtoa gate, and when in use can beman-ipulated withease by a person on foot or on horseback.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seenthatthere. hasbeenrproduced such a device, assubstantially fulfills the objectsof the invention asset forth herein.

While this specificationsets forth in detailthe present and preferred. construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form. a delatch bar slidable in the body and projecting from one end thereof, the latch bar including a reduced diameter spindle in part in the body and projecting from the opposite end thereof, a pair of cross bars at said opposite end of the body, the inner most cross bar being fixed to the body andv theioutermost. crossbar beingsecured on the spindle, the; innermost. cross bar; having a reduced-diameter hole through which the spindle slidably projects, a compression spring in the body about the spindle between a shoulder on the latch bar and the innermost cross bar, the outermost cross barfextending laterally of the spindle in. one direction as an actuating finger,

' and. a swing lever adapted to be mounted adjacent and crossing the spindle directly ahead of saidfinger; both cross bars extending laterally in vanropposite direction and having communicating holes adapted to receive a locking device.

2. A gate latch comprising an elongated tubula body a latch bar shorter than the body slidably and'non-turnably mounted. in and projecting from the outer end of'the body, a reduceddiameter spindle on the inner end of the bar projecting from the inner end'of the body,.a. member rigid with and closingsaid inner end of the body except for anopening through which the spindle slidably projects, the free end portion oil the spindle being threaded, a laterally projecting cross bar adjustably threaded and clamped on the spindle and normally bearing against the' member to limit, the extent. of'projectiorr of the latch bar. from the outerendtof. the body, and a swing lever adapted to be mounted, adjacent'and crossing the spindle ahead of the crossbar for engagement with the. laterally projecting portion thereof.

ANDREW C. THOMPSON.

CARL

REFERENCES CITED The. following. references are of record in.the.- file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 139,767 Carlin June10; 1873 325,577 Stovall Sept. 1', 1885 1,054,782 Matthews" Mar. 4', 1913 1,210,911 Davis Jan.,2, 1917 

